Remaining ministries', devolution by June 30

Implementation Commission on 18th Amendment has decided to devolve all the remaining ministries in one phase within the given constitutional timeframe till June, 30, it is learnt. According to the sources, earlier, the Implementation Commission had to transfer remaining ministries, including Health Ministry, in third and fourth phases but it has now been decided been to devolve all of them in one phase to the provinces.
The Commission took this decision in a meeting held with Mian Raza Rabbani in the chair on Tuesday at Parliament House. The Commission discussed transfer process of these ministries and their employees in detail, sources added. The Commission would meet again today (Wednesday) and the officials of Health Ministry would give comprehensive briefing to the members.
Earlier the Commission had decided to transfer three more ministries - Sports, Environment, and Women Development - to the provinces in the third phase. But the Commission did not include Health Ministry in this phase. The Implementation Commission has already transferred ten ministries: five namely population welfare, zakat and ushr, local bodies and rural development, special initiatives and youth affairs were transferred in the first phase; while education, tourism, social welfare and special education, livestock and dairy development, and culture were transferred in the second phase.
The Cabinet Division has already issued notification for the establishment of new Capital Administration and Development Division. According to detail, as many as 20 departments including Academy of Education Planning and Management, Islamabad, Central Board of Film Censor, Islamabad, Department of Tourists Services, Federal College of Education will come under its control. In addition any other related department that is devolved in future would also come under the control of the Capital Administration and Development Division.
Similarly, all such functions handled by the abolished/would be abolished Ministries/ Divisions, would come under the Capital Administration and Development Division; as well as such other functions as are allocated to it hence forthwith and from time to time.
The sources said that the Parliament has to make 20th Amendment in the Constitution if federal government wants to retain any ministry which is being devolved to provinces. According to the Constitution, the process of transfer of Ministries would be completed by June 30, 2011.